Wow wow wow, what a stunning beachside property. We knew it was wellness focused (which my wife loved - especially the massages and sauna!) but there was so much more to this unique property like enjoying a cold drink by lovely pool or relaxing on the deserted beach. The staff were great, nothing was too much trouble. The room was spacious and well thought out with a private veranda. Would highly recommend and will definitely be back.

Nothing

Like Visiting Family — Warm, Welcoming, and Truly Special From the very first moment I arrived, I was met with such kindness and warmth — it honestly felt like I was visiting relatives, not checking into a hotel. The atmosphere is cozy and full of heart, and the staff make it unforgettable. One of the lovely girls who welcomed me felt like a little sister — so sweet and genuine. I don’t remember her name, but I’ll never forget her energy and kindness. When I was leaving, we even hugged goodbye. It felt like leaving family behind. The manager was simply amazing — kind, thoughtful, and very professional. And the chef! He personally came out to check if I enjoyed the food (which I absolutely did — the seafood was insanely delicious). You can feel that they all truly care. Everyone smiles here. Everyone is friendly. And the vibe is something I’ll carry with me. I’m already dreaming of coming back — again and again.

We absolutely LOVED our stay! The hotel is beautiful and we felt calm and relaxed from the moment we arrived. What makes is really special is the staff. Everyone was exceptionally nice and helped us with everything we needed. Both food and cocktails were top! (take from a London foodie). We celebrated our wedding anniversary there and the team prepared an amazing dinner and cake for us with Lasantha taking extra care of us. We also loved the complimentary yoga classes with Saman. A special thanks to the manager, Fabian, who literally went not one, but many extra miles to make our stay special. We are definitely coming back!

Nothing not to like there

Sama Retreat is an absolute gem of a place. The grounds are huge with lovely gardens, and the stunning beach is only steps away. All of the staff were brilliant, welcoming and friendly. There are two choices for breakfast - western or Sri Lankan, we tried both and they were delicious and plentiful. The spa is amazing and I was very impressed with the two treatments I enjoyed there -a facial and a massage. Extremely professional spa staff in a very clean, hygienic and beautiful setting. The sounds of nature and running water was the best sound back drop I have ever experienced during spa treatment, and who would have thought a stint in the steam room after the massage would be so magnificent! We booked Sama Retreat as a treat for my birthday and we are very glad we did. What a relaxing and peaceful way to begin our tour of Sri Lanka. Thank you :)

The menu is a bit limited, especially for those such as us who don't eat fish or seafood. But what we did try from the menu was generous and delicious.

A beautiful tranquil retreat in a hideaway setting, with the most amazing quiet beach I have visited in Sri Lanka. The retreat offers so many opportunities to relax and unwind from the daily yoga sessions which were an amazing way to start the day. We opted for the couples package which I highly recommend, the massages were the best we have experienced. The restaurant staff were all so friendly and couldn't do enough to make our stay enjoyable. A special mention to Wijay and his team and the chefs came out every day to make sure we were happy with their food. Fabian was great company during our stay and Molly and Shae are always there with anything needed. We loved our fisherman's cottage and the rustic interior. All in all we would definitely return and recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing retreat.

Just with the couples package needed to be clarified exactly what was offered everyday.

Our 1st time in Sri Lanka and Sama did not disappoint. Set on the coast within amazing gardens which allowed nature to thrive alongside…coconut crabs,monkeys,mongoose the list goes on…it was a real retreat with excellent facilities. Our hideaway was just that, authentic whilst having that 5* attention to detail and the staff were outstanding …the mixologist may have been our favourite 😆 The food all freshly prepared using the highest quality ingredients….we are already planning our next stay!

Everything was excellent

This property is a little gem!! It is much better than advertised on their website!! Located in a very wide area of nature, we felt very privileged since there are very few guests.. There are so many staff attending to everyone needs and the beach is truly precious, beautiful and clean and we were almost the only ones there!! In addition they have a good outdoor pool and a lovely and clean natural pool, an amazing Spa and Ioga facilities. In our room, we had all comfort including coffee and tea facilities and a very hot shower!! We had several requests outside of the box such as : iphone charger, toys for the beach, special drinks and they were answered in no time!!! They have a very good barman too, which was surprising to us! Thank you to all the lovely people of the resort!!

The restaurant is lovely but it is lacking in choice and the portions are on the small side for the price. That could definitely be improved especially if you stay longer…

Amazing nature and facilities. Great food and chef. Beautiful swimming pool. Very peaceful and serene place to restore and rest. Special thanks to the gardeners working relentlessly to make the place so special.

Although the spa services were of good quality, the pricing felt excessive. Charging between USD 150 and 200 for a massage reflects a very high margin for the hotel. On top of that, the additional VAT—disclosed only at the time of settling the final bill—creates a sense of hidden costs. This lack of transparency makes the experience feel overpriced. Compared to how the hospitality industry in Sri Lanka has operated for decades, this approach marks a clear shift. Since the 2022 economic crisis, many hotels appear to be in a rush to maximize revenue, often at the expense of guest trust. This is not unique to Sama Retreat, but rather part of a broader trend across the country.

The best thing about Sama was the staff... from the chef to waiting staff to management was exceptional. My every need was catered for. I would like to mention Sumith the chef who was totally awesome. Extremely dedicated and an absolute gem of a resource to the establishment. Then there was Fabian who actually made my stay there at Sama. Wealth of knowledge... better than an encyclopedia... entertaining and accommodating. Thank you so much Fabian. Definitely will be back.

I was dissapointed that the beach in front of the retreat was not taken care of... this would take a mere few minutes a day. The beach was scattered with rubbish, plastic bottles and a plethora of other discards. Otherwise the beach is stunning.

This place is absolutely beautiful and the staff are so wonderful. It’s a gorgeous, architect-designed oasis leading onto a peaceful beach, with 2 pools, one being a natural pool surrounded by amazing vegetation. The rooms are lovely, with huge, very comfortable beds and there was complementary yoga each morning. The staff team are so friendly and warm - special mentions to the Director Fabian and to Kavi, who helped look after us and was especially caring to our two children. The cooks are also really excellent - if you appreciate good food you will be so happy here. The kids were delighted to spot monkeys and monitor lizards on their first day, and to visit the adjacent turtle rehabilitation centre. I was a little nervous about taking our two kids to such a quiet, peaceful place, not wanting to disturb other adult guests but needn’t have worried - the property is so spacious it often felt like we had it to ourselves.

I only wished we could have stayed longer. It was a perfect choice for our first few days unwinding after a long flight.